A Thank You and a Non-Goodbye!

Today marks the last day of Amina Doherty’s tenure as FRIDA’s Coordinator. And though we know very well that no one really ever ‘leaves’ our feminist movements, we want to mark this day with appreciation and recognition of Amina’s path-setting contributions to FRIDA’s evolution from an idea to fully fledged Young Feminist Fund. The rejuvenation of FRIDA leadership and continued support to young feminists around the globe is ensured by the deep commitment of the FRIDA Advisory committee and the supporting institutions of AWID and FCAM. The possibilities are truly endless for FRIDA’s development in the years to come!

Here are some words from us –  FRIDA Advisors AND grantees to appreciate Amina and to look forward toward FRIDA’s bright future!

Angelika Arutyunova

Program Manager at AWID and Interim Coordinator of FRIDA (as of April 8)

 

Words of Appreciation for Amina:

Starting up a new organization from scratch always requires a lot of courage, persistence, optimism, creativity, imagination, vision and commitment. Starting up FRIDA the Young Feminist Fund was even a bigger challenge, taking in account its innovative model and its global ambitions. However, you made it happen Amina with such grace and lightness! Your leadership embedded all these qualities and more. We could feel your love for art, painting and music vibrating behind you, pushing you ahead even during the most difficult times, when sometimes it seemed impossible to achieve so many things a t the same time. Thank you for giving birth to FRIDA with the support of all the young (and less young) “comadres” you had around. I know that we will all stay close to FRIDA wherever we are and that with our ongoing support, our future coordinator will take good care of the “new kid on the block” and will take it to a new and exciting stage of development and success.

Thank you Amina!
Ana Criquillion and Carla López from Fondo Centroamericano de Mujeres (FCAM and CAWF)

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The leadership, creativity, vision, commitment and passion that Amina gave FRIDA as its Coordinator during its start-up phase has made FRIDA what it is today: an exciting, innovative, dynamic new women’s fund, supporting amazing work led by young feminist around the world, creating opportunities to mobilize much needed new resources to support feminist organizing globally.  We have been so lucky to have you Amina as our colleague leading this important new feminist organization, and we wish you all the best in the new phase that you will be starting soon!

Warmly,

Lydia Alpizar, Executive Director of AWID

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Amina has been a fearless leader to FRIDA. Her enthusiasm, energy, dedication and belied about what FRIDA was becoming was contagious from the moment I met her. As the coordinator, she always ensured that we all took ownership for the success and challenges with FRIDA. For me, I will remember Amina as the charismatic but firm leader who encompassed FRIDA’s core values of flexibility, resource(fullness), inclusivity, diversity and action. As FRIDA transitions into new leadership and new round of grants, I look forward to continue to work with FRIDA to ensure that these core values are living reality in the activism and initiatives FRIDA supports.

Marisa Viana, Manager for Young Feminist Activism Program at AWID

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Amina is a true believer in the power of young feminist organizing — this belief has grounded and driven her work at FRIDA.  She brings energy, creativity, vision, and love to her work.  Her leadership and love has helped to build the amazing community of grantees, donors, advisors, and supporters that is FRIDA today.  We look forward to nurturing and supporting this community in its next stages.  Using Amina’s example as our model, we will ground our work going forward in our firm belief in the power of young feminist organizing.

Betsy Hoody, FRIDA Advisor

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From our first conversation, I already thought that I was dealing with a woman with strong beliefs. I later noticed that you showed as well a lot of insight and empathy in your task as coordinator. Never imposing your will on others. I sincerely hope that the path you’re taking today will be bright and full of accomplishment. Just like FRIDA’s that continues its momentum and will welcome talented and dedicated leaders.

Fanta Cisse, FRIDA Advisor

Dès notre première conversation, je me disais déjà que j’avais affaire à une femme avec de fortes convictions. J’ai ensuite découvers que tu faisais preuve de beaucoup de clairvoyance et d’empathie dans ta tâche de coordonatrice. N’imposant jamais ta volonté aux autres. J’espère vivement que le chemin que tu emprunte aujourd’hui sera brillant et plein d’accomplissement.  Tout comme celui de FRIDA qui continuera sur sa lancée et verra passer beaucoup de leaders talentueux et dévoués.

Fanta Cisse, FRIDA Advisor

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“En Noviembre del 2010, a parte de conmemorarse el 25,  el día contra la violencia hacia las mujeres, comenzamos a construir un sueño que hoy es realidad: FRIDA. Y quien ayudo firmemente a hacer realidad este gran sueño colectivo fue Amina. Amina Doherty, con pasión, fortaleza, un enorme  corazón  y sobretodo con su creatividad nos ayudo a volver realidad los deseos de un cumulo de feministas algunas más jóvenes que otras. Y no fue una tarea fácil. Pero a tres años, podemos ver los resultados de su labor. Frida es un fondo reconocido a nivel global, se han acercado más de 1,000 grupos y hemos apoyado a grupos de jóvenes feministas del sur global que tienen una gran capacidad de incidencia política y de transformación para lograr un mundo mejor. En este 2013, en Frida, tenemos un gran reto, pasar a una nueva etapa donde un primer paso es que se cierra una etapa con Amina, pero nos deja con toda la fortaleza para consolidar un equipo en FRIDA,  para poder apoyar a cada vez más grupos de jóvenes feministas a nivel global. Amina nos deja un gran trabajo de tres años de lucha, esfuerzo y dedicación, nos deja un gran camino, para seguir construyendo un mundo mejor y más justo para las jóvenes y niñas”

Perla Sofia Vazquez Diaz , FRIDA Advisor

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For me, Amina truly embodies the qualities of feminist leadership: leading through humility, solidarity and support in order to ensure FRIDA does outstanding work. She’s been able to bring together the energies of a far-flung, diverse and creative group in order to launch, guide and support FRIDA in her inaugural journey. Her indefatigable enthusiasm and inspiring optimism is the stuff of legends!  With FRIDA’s foundations in place, Amina has set the tone for successes that are sure to continue. We are cheering her on in her next endeavors and welcoming in new energies for the next phase of FRIDA’s life.

Amanda Shaw, Program Associate at AWID, FRIDA support staff

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Amina you have been the first courageous young feminist to work with young feminist and shown to us that good heart of, understanding our issues, giving us equal opportunities and sharing information we are really going to miss you a lot but all in thanks for the great work you have done to bring out young feminist on board.

Yours, Julie

Crested Crane Lighters, FRIDA Grantee

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Although I never met you in person and the closest we could get was via skype, I feel that you are an amazingly important feminist comrade, a person who I can trust. Your support and commitment is something to admire and I hope I will meet more people with your ideals. Your work and positive energy are extremely empowering for our group. Thank you!

Best,

Marianna Szczygielska

Radical Queer Affinity Collective, FRIDA Grantee

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On behalf of Friends of Life Foundation and myself, we would like to say that Amina is unique and dynamic when it comes to coordinating or communication. The reason I’m saying this is that during my travelling arrangement and participation in the AWID forum in Turkey the manner and fastest way she took to arrange for my travelling was amazing. She is sociable, lovely, non-racism or discrimination, respectful and hardworking.  Word cannot express her coordinating abilities during her terms.  We wish her good health and success wherever she will find herself.

We love you Amina.

Tiwaa Nightingale

Friends of Life Foundation , FRIDA Grantee

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Dear Amina,

On behalf of “EQUAL RIGHTS” young activists group I thank you for your wonderful work you’ve done for FRIDA and for us as a grantee. You have been always willing to help us with your responses and advises, as well as with the very valuable and useful information and materials, resources you shared with us regularly.  Wish you all the best. Such a positive person like you makes this world better. THANK YOU. ”

Marianna

Group/Program Coordinator

Equal Rights, FRIDA Grantee

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As Y-Fem I am honoured to have met such a vibrant womyn as Amina. She is driven by love, and strong drive behind that love is appreciation and celebration of young womyn. Amina has supported us not only on a donor -grantee relationship but she has walked this path in solidarity with me, hopefully all the grantee partners. I am wishing Amina light and love for her next ventures…

Regards

Florence

Y-Fem, FRIDA Grantee

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Dear Amina,

Warm Greeting from Georgia. Thank you very much for you amazing work and support all the time. You courage  gave us inspiration to join women’s movement and be part of it. Thank you once again and sending big love from Georgia. Helping Hand and Civil Society Development Centre.

Sincerely,

Tinatin Meskhi, Deputy Director

Helping Hand – NGO, FRIDA Grantee

In the Philippines, women stand up for peace

By Nassreena Sampaco-Baddiri on 07 March 2013

Funding and Resources for Women’s Rights Organisations

The recent decade has witnessed the strengthening of commitments and resources for gender equality and women’s empowerment from a diverse set of actors involved in development efforts worldwide. With the deadline of the Millennium Development Goals just around the corner, the need for increased resources is more urgent than ever, further assisted by calls for making gender equality a cornerstone for development. It remains to be seen whether this recognition will actually be translated into financial support by grantmakers in a more effective, responsive and respectful fashion that can truly bring about a hopeful vision for a prosperous future for women and girls globally. Actively involved in this debate, FRIDA selected a collection of valuable resources to assist young feminist activists in their search for sponsorship and support.

1. ‘Where is the money for Women’s Rights?‘:  Recognising that women’s rights organisations often suffer from severe under-funding, AWID launched the WITM initiative with the aim of building in-depth knowledge on resource mobilisation and increasing the effectiveness of women’s rights groups in raising and gaining access to funds.

2. ‘Untapped Potential – European Foundations Funding for Women and Girls‘ : A research study, commissioned by Mama Cash, which attempts to throw light on the extent that European Foundations provide funding for women and girls.

3.’5 Principles of Global Feminist Philanthropy‘ : Kellea Miller and Caitlin Stanton of Global Fund for Women, with Esther Lever of Mama Cash,  share their collective wisdom and look forward to the next generation of grantmaking for women’s rights, in hopes of becoming “more effective, responsive and respectful grantmakers for laying bare our assumptions and our vision for the future”.

4. ‘Looking forward to the Next Generation of Global Feminist Philanthropy’: A blog by the National Committee of Responsive Philanthropy on best practices in funding groups working to empower women and girls globally.

5. ‘Strengthening Financing for Gender Equality and Women’s Organisations‘: Has the commitment for strengthening resources for women’s rights actually been translated into financial support? What policy measures are critical for sustaining financing for gender equality in a context of crisis? Drawing from AWID initiative  ’Where is the Money for Women’s Rights’? this report by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women addresses the above as well as other pressing questions.

6. Resource Materials from Webinar on ‘Feminist Cyblogs: Activism, Fundraising, and Society Online’: As part of the annual campaign ’16 days of Activism to end Gender Violence’ and with the assistance of TakeBackTheTech initiative, the African Feminist Forum hosted a webinar on feminist activism, fundraising and society online. All the presentations used for the webinar are available for download.

7. Equal Education, Equal Pay: Closing the Gender Wage Gap: It’s 2012 and close to four years after the Lilly ledbetter Fair Pay Act was signed into law in the US. Surely, the gender wage gap has been closed, right? Wrong. This excellent infographic guide explains why.

16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women – Join the global call!

By: Elena Georgalla (FRIDA Intern)

16 is a remarkable number. It often marks some kind of passage or the breakdown of previous barriers: the coming of age and the transition to adulthood; driving license; consent; voting; graduation;  legal obligations. 16 is also a number of action. Every year, from November 25- International Day Against Violence Against Women- to December 10- International Human Rights Day, thousands of activists around the globe merge their voices in 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.

The campaign, established in 1991 at the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute, offers an opportunity to renew our pledge to free women and girls from the global pandemic of violence. Whether it happens privately, behind closed doors, or employed publicly as a strategy of intimidation, in your building or on distant shores, gender-based violence affects women and girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo as it does in the United States. It knows no borders and  no ethnic, racial, socio-economic, and religious lines. UN Women reports that 15 to 76 percent of women and girls of all ages, experience some form of sexual or physical violence in their lifetime. Gender-based violence can be physical, sexual and psychological and can include female infanticide; child sexual abuse; sex trafficking and forced labour; sexual coercion and abuse; neglect; domestic violence; coercion; economic deprivation; and elder abuse. Violence occurs in times of peace and ceasefire, and during war and social upheaval- both are two sides to a single coin. In recognition of this, the global theme of the 16 Days campaign this year is From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women! 2012 marks the third year of the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership ‘s advocacy on the intersections of gender-based violence and militarism.

During the 16-day period, thousands of organisations and activists mobilise to send a formidable message for the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls globally. Attention is also drawn to the abolition of harmful traditional practices, such as child and forced marriage; ‘honour’ killings; female genital mutilation; and gender-biased sex selection. Opportunities for action are countless, especially because the 16 Days of Activism campaign encompasses other significant dates as well, including November 29 – International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1 – World AIDS Day; and December 6 which marks the anniversary of the Montreal massacre.

Taking immediate action matters to everyone, men and women. Initiatives taken vary from local campaigns to raise awareness to demonstrations and lobbying policy-makers. The latter is particularly important. Even though notable progress is being reported globally, it is vital to secure the appropriate legislation to criminalise such acts and prevent them from happening in the future. But even more crucial is to educate. Learning is certainly not exclusive to younger generations. However, FRIDA would like to highlight the prominence of young feminist activism around the world and the power of young women to take the future in their hands. Every action matters. For inspiration as to how you can join thousands in the global call for ending gender-based violence, check out the following incredible actions taken by young feminists around the world and ways to join them. If you are using social media, keep up with actions around the world (#16Days).

• In commemoration of World Aids Day, the AWID Young Feminist Wire draws attention to young women’s initiatives on combating HIV/AIDS and to the concrete ways women around the world are contributing to advancing women’s rights and social justice for those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.
• One of the most imaginative and engaging collaborative campaigns undertaken this year is Take Back The Tech!, calling out to everyone – especially women and girls – to take control of technology to end violence against women. Over the 16-day period, Take Back The Tech! invites you to take one action per day. Each daily action explores a different issue of violence against women and its interconnection with communication rights, and approaches different communication platforms in creative and tactical ways.
• OpenDemocracy 50:50 has launched an alternative coverage of the 16 Days international campaign, bringing you an array of articles, testimonies, poetry and short stories, exploring the continuum of violence against women globally.
• Women Win, an NGO dedicated to equipping young girls to exercise their rights through sport, has prepared a wonderful video to raise awareness about violence against women and girls in conflict and post-conflict regions and how sport can be a powerful means of coping with the physical and emotional trauma.
• The Centre for Women’s Global Leadership has launched a series of actions, including a 16 Days Campaign blog, featuring activists from around the world.
• On the occasion of November 29th, Women Human Rights Defenders Day, the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition released a statement, standing in solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of women activists around the world who courageously uphold women’s human rights, the rights of communities, and of the environment.
•  Similarly, the JASS (Just Associates) joined on International Women Human Rights Defenders Day by paying a tribute to the women across the world fighting for justice and a better life in the face of violence and war, especially recognising the work of women activists in Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gaza and Egypt.
• Say NO – UNiTe campaign supported by the United Nations and UN Women has developed an elaborate guide on ways to take action for individuals, students. governments, civil society and corporations.

Ever action counts. Last day of the campaign is December 10th, International Human Rights Day. So get inspired and make sure you keep up with FRIDA grantee partners to see what other young feminist around the world are doing to make a change.

The Clinton Global Initiative: Learning And Reflections From AWID And FRIDA

As first-time participants, AWID and FRIDA | The Young Feminist Fund share reflections on the recent Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) and ask readers to reflect with us on engaging in global agenda-setting spaces like CGI.